JustChords vs Recording Mate
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
JustChords
Organize your song library with chord charts and lyrics. Create or import songs, sync across devices, and build setlists for live performances. Supports various music notations and audio playback.
- Chord chart and lyric editor
- Import songs from online sources
- iCloud device syncing
- Setlist creation and sharing
- AirPlay lyric projection
- Audio player and recorder
- Support for multiple music notations
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JustChords is your complete tool for cataloging chord charts and lyrics. Create charts from scratch, import them from files, or pull them from online sources — building a library that's always with you, synced across iPhone, iPad and Mac via iCloud. Use JustChords standalone or as an AUv3 plugin in your favorite DAW. FEATURES • Setlists, with sharing and collaboration • Song editor is based on ChordPro and supports chords & lyrics, note sheets (PDF), chord beats, guitar tabs and ABC notation • Change Key, Capo, Piano Transpose, Rewrite into key • Metronome & Tuner • Autoscroll • Guitar, ukulele and piano chord diagrams, including alternate tunings • Audio player & recorder. Attach your tracks from Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, URL or local file • Project lyrics or a dedicated stage display via AirPlay, with rich configuration options • Bluetooth / MIDI pedal support • Chord Beats — visualize chord duration right in your chords & lyrics, send chord notes over MIDI as they play, and trigger predefined MIDI messages on section changes • Tonic Pad — an ambient backing pad matched to your song's key • PlayTogether — keep your whole band in sync live, hands-free
Recording Mate
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An SV2 MIDI device is required. Recording Mate is a simple MIDI recording app that lets you connect an SV2 MIDI device, record your performance, and play it back easily. You can record up to 4 tracks, making it easy to separate different instruments or performance parts. Recorded tracks can be played back instantly, and you can mute specific tracks when you want to listen to only selected parts. Your MIDI performance can be saved as a MIDI file and shared with other apps or devices. Key Features: SV2 MIDI device connection support Record up to 4 MIDI tracks Track playback and mute control Delete and re-record tracks Save and share MIDI files
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Recording Mate at none against JustChords's 7. Recording Mate also leads on iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.5). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. JustChords sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Recording Mate asks for nothing beyond the download.
JustChords ships an update every 2 weeks, Recording Mate every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | JustChords | Recording Mate |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (350 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 95.2% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 350 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks — better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 17.5 | 15.6 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 66 MB | 40 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | get started s. r. o. | sung keun lee |
Bugs and requests
JustChords
Reported bugs
11 issues- App crashes when importing songs from online sources
- Pinch zoom feature stopped working
- Songs disappearing from library
- App unable to load songs from library in certain conditions
- Multi-column view not functioning on iPad
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- PDF export inconsistently includes/excludes metadata
- Control+S keyboard shortcut non-functional on iPad and desktop
- Choppy scrolling between songs
- Tagging system filters incorrectly (excludes songs with multiple tags)
- Songs won't open when tapped (reported on iPhone 8 with iOS 16.7.4)
- Sticky notes placement requires manual adjustment
Requested features
8 requests- Apple Pencil direct annotation with eraser capability
- Standard tag filtering logic (show songs with selected tags)
- Bluetooth pedal support for song navigation without touching device
- Web-based editor for songs
- Direct in-app sharing to other users
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- Improved documentation and user manual
- Smoother song-to-song scrolling transitions
- Dark mode option
Recording Mate
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
JustChords
- Buy me a coffee$0.99
- Nice Chords!$2.99
- Buy me a pineapple$4.99
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- Rock On!$6.99
- Buy me a book$7.99
- Big Thanks!$17.99
- Legendary Support!$44.99
Recording Mate
No in-app purchases









